WESTERS FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERS FRONT.

GERMAN RETREAT. ; ! GOING BEHIND AISNE. LONDON,N October 13. i The Germans in the Champagne have abandoned the line of the Eetoume, and are undoubtedly going behind the Aisne. The rapidity of the retirement may be gauged by the fact that the French this morning advanced four or five miles on the whole of this front. The advance was so rapid that it was difficult to follow the exact line, but there is nothing for a considerable distance to impede the French advance. The British north of the Scarpe reached a line about two miles west of Douai. The enemy is obviously retiring behind the Senses Canal. On the Chemin des Dames the French progressed from the west, the enemy falling back beyond the eastern end towards the Rheims-iLaon road, north of Berry-au-Bac. -It is expected that the enemy will retire behind the Ailette. FRENCH CAPTURE LA FERE. i '■ _____ LONDON; October 13. A French official report states: —We have captured La Fere, an important fortress on- the- Oise, midway between St. Quentin and Loan. We have also occupied the heights of Danizg, a mile and a half east of La Fere. : FRENCH AT LAON. LONDON, October, 13. The French advanced six miles today, and occupied the whole of. St. Gobain Forest and reached the suburbs of Laon. FRENCH ADVANCE BEYOND LAON TO COUEBES, ON THE SEEE. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, October 14. The Tenth Army, in the morning, entered Laon, liberating 6500 civilians, We passed far beyond the town on the whole front from the Oise and north of the Ailette to the east of La Fere. We are on the edge of the southern bank of the Sere to Courbes Station.; vjf FRENCH VICTORY IN THE CHAMPAGNE. TWENTY THOUSAND PRISONERS IN THREE WEBES. LONDON, Oct IS. A French communique states: —The battle begun in tbe Champagne on September 26 has ended, after seventeen days’ fighting, in the complete defeat of the enemy. The Fourtn Army completed the liberation of the Aisne by re-occupying to-day thirtysix localities; and freeing several thousand civilians subjected to tne German yoke since 1914. This army alone, since the beginning of the Champagne offensive, has taken 21,567 prisoners, including 499 officers, six hundred guns, and much material. The Fifth Army, on its left, relentlessly pursuing the enemy, crossed the Retourre, and advanced ten kilometres. We hold Vieu les Asfelt, La ViHe, and the southern outskirts or the Blanzy. We crossed the Aisne after fighting at Guigniqourt and Neuf Chateau, advancing towards Mont Fronvaik. Between the Aisne - and the Oise, our vigorous pressure P forced the enemy to a fresh retreat. rearguards we reached the Ailette, north of Craonne. Pur. ther west our line Is marked by Chivy Ites EtouveHes, two and a-fialf miles drum Laon, Bourglgnes, Fauconcourt, and points east of Premont, east of St Gobain, west of Berfhancourt and Deuillet.

STRONG ENEMY ATTACKS. REPULSED AT ALL POINTS Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, October 14. Sir Douglas Haig, at 3.10 in the morning reports:—On the afternoon of the 13th the enemy opened a heavy ; bombardment on a wide front north j of Le Cateau, launching strong' in- j fantry attacks on "our positions eastward of Sell© River, in the neighbourhood of Solesnes. These attacks we successfully repulsed after heavy fighting. Other attacks, wherein tanks were employed supporting the infantry assault against our positions opposite Bjaspres were unsuccessful. Our patrols advanced at a number of points south and north of Douai gained ground, taking prisoners. NEW FLANDERS OFFENSIVE, j TO SECURE BELGIAN PORTS.;: TO SECURE'BELGIAN PORTSi ..-: ■-■■'■■ | YORK, October 14^.; The Anglo-French, iahd Belgians have begun a new. Flanders offensive, on an extensive front, which is designed to secure ; the Belgian .ports.; .• - .:••-.,• ~ J) QUA I SURROUNDED. •-; ■ ' !<• r; Received 10.10 a.m. ...■,.- NEW YORK, Oct 14. TEe British have completely, surrounded Douai v _ ..,.._. , . ~.. „_, r KEYSTONE, OF DEFENCE",CAP-...... ;"-'•'"; TURED. ;r * ""■"'■ - . , LONDON,. Oct 1«. : Reuter's correspondent at Frencn headquarters, writing on the evening of the IStti. says: f Further Freich progress is recorded from the Oiseto the Aisne. and in the Champagne.' South-east of Laon we reached trie line running straight from Orteeval to Amifontaine. In the centre we occupied a strong position north of the Aisne, We are bridging the river, under occasional heavy artillery fire. Furthe east in the great northward bend of the Aisne we hold the southern bank of the river to Vouziers. North of this line numerous fires indicate that the enemy does not intend to hold for long his sew natural line along the Sorre river The French entered Laon without a fight, thus reconquering the grea* group of natural obstacles which for years have formed the keystone ol? the German defence in France.